Fight like a girl Kristen Bendele. May you Fly forever with the angels.

November the 9th around 1:50 am Kristen to make these unusual sounds and movements with her jaw that would make a normal persons jaw break. My heart still aches watching her struggle to breath and nothing I can do. Hospice told me that we are getting pretty close. Soon as I get off the phone with Hospice I put on Judy Collins Amazing Grace". I wake Abigail up and explain to her that it is time to say goodbye to mom. Abigail comes over to her mom she grabs hold of her mom. Abigail givers her a huge kiss on the check and whispers to her "I love you mommy". Abigail goes back crying to where she was next to mom. By now it is about 1:06am Katlyn come up to her already crying. Katlyn leans down to give her mom a kiss. Just as Katlyn started saying "I love you mom please don't go." Kristen's left eye got a tear in it and that quick....2:08am she was gone. The worst feeling I hope I never have. My heart and soul split apart. I watched our daughters come apart. Somehow Katlyn called the neighbors over and she curled up nearly on top of her mom. She said dad mommy's getting cold. I played my head on her chest and we all slept with her one more time for about 2 hours. Now comes the next hardest thing and that is watching them bring Kristen from bedroom on the stretcher. I got to say one more time how much I loved her and how sorry I was that it wasn't me laying their. I don't remember hardly anything for the next full day. Guess I was tired. The next few days I was trying to plan out how I wanted all of memorial to go down. She deserved a resting fit for a Queen for how she battled cancer, had to fight for custody for her son because his dad thought she was becoming an unfit mother and I was an abusive dad And for the ABSOLUTE PURE LOVE she showed to her kids. The viewing. I was scared Kristen wasn't going to look like mom. All I can say is WOW. She look amazing. Just like mom. The place was full with people to pay their respects and say goodbye. I was proud that night that I was lucky enough to have been able to spend a decade with her. Now in 3 days I have to pull off a miracle memorial. I ain't ready, I didn't want to admit that this is it. But Schaudt and Teel funeral home did a smash up job pushing me to get it done and in order I wanted everything with the songs I picked out. Saturday morning November 15th I had 2 angels show up at my door. Michele Langohr and Carol Curry. They was their to get the girls ready. My girls looked so beautiful that day. The saddest day of their young lives and they look like princess's. I won't go into to much about how the memorial turned out but, Holy Shit it was great. I laughed, I cryed and I walked out of their loving her even more. I will let the ones that went say what they thought. Kristen said if she was to die no body would care. I say bull crap. You filled that church up with believers Kristen. The song choice I had. Judy Collins "Amazing Grace" she passed away hearing it, Rascal Flats "won't let go" back in April when she told the Dr.'s her journey was over this was the 1st song we heard when I started the truck and we both looked at each said wtf laughed a chuckle then cried our eyes out. Lastly Bette Midler "wind beneath my wings" that song and movie was her favorite. Going to tell you a small story about what I thought she was dyeing a month and half prior. I apologize for the language but without it in there it ain't her. Tuesday morning I am about to take kids to school when they all go into mom's room. Something's not right she is completely unresponsive however, I see lower part of her chest rising. so I rushed kids to school and I made a promise I never should have NEVER made. Yes your mother will be alright. I get back home in record time I fly into bed room. Kristen now barely breathing down in her abdomen. that vein in her neck isn't moving. I snatch her up and I slam her down on bed I pound on her chest I am screaming for what seems like hours but only a minute. She slowly starts to open up her eyes. Of course mine are whelping up because I thought I just did a good thing.. I asked Kristen what do you think you was doing Kristen reply " I was going to sleep mother fucker what the hell was you doing". I about fell over from laughing here she almost dead and she's going to kill me. THAT IS KRISTEN. Now to close it out. Kristen loved rainbows. At the end there was 3 people that needed no invitation to come over and see her. And these 3 would be the only ones allowed as time drew near. When they came in the room it was pure sun shine and colors. Rachel Butler you brought the BLUE in the Sun Bow because of the laughter and childhood memories. She loved hearing them. Bunny Yek, she brought YELLOW to Sun Bow. You was full of inspiration and how she loved to pray with you. Carol Curry you was the RED. You brought her love and affections only you could give her. Now comes purple on the bottom. I have to find it somehow to hold this SUNBOW that I have created out of people for Kristen up. You know what WE NOT ONLY HELD THAT SUNBOW UP BUT KRISTEN TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO HEAVEN WITH HER. May your wings for ever be that Sunbow.

Please share this articles as you have the other 3. Let everyone know. CHECK YOURSELF TODAY. get your mammogram today. You may not have tomorrow. Thank you!!!! Joseph Jennings

and PLEASE SIGN MY PETITION. We can stop this with early detection. We can give these young women a fighting chance. Breast cancer is the number 1 killer in women. Breast cancer screening should be done regular just like pelvic exams. I pray the women stand up and shout you are not God and i will live. I hope our story resinates enough that you will not let the insurance companies push you around no more. Thank you. change.org title in search is lower the age for breast cancer screening.

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one of the best and saddest you will read. Please help the next generation of women and sign the petition. We have the power to stop the women from being told no, that your life aint worth $300.00. WOMEN are PRICELESS. thank you

Such a touching story. So sorry for your loss :(
Early detection is key to survival! Why wouldn't all insurance companies cover all mammograms?! Finding it early and treating it when it is not so advanced is so much cheaper than having to pay for even more extreme chemo and radiation and long-term and pallative/hospice care! All insurance companies should cover mammograms 100% just like PAP smears!

Awareness is key! Please spread the word, be an advocate, and never give up the fight. Kristen's story is just one of many. Let's not let their lives be defined by their deaths. We can beat this one day. It will happen. Prayers of strength and comfort to you, Joseph, and those strong, and amazing girls you have.

when Kristen started Chemo back in 2009 Adrimiacin, Cytoxicin and Taxol it was 9600.00 for i believe 8 weeks. nearly $77,000 just for chemo. Radiation was i think $12,000 X 10. Thats $200,000 just for 1 complete treatment. Vs. 400.00 for screening (patients out of pocket). The math says Insurance companies own the pharmasuticals. I pray every women realizises what is at stake here. Your life is priceless and please stand up and say NO MORE and sign the petition.